CONSTIPATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 29 (Supplement)

CONSTIPATION.

ST ISCBZL EABESSAPZ. Undoubtedly constipation is the primary eause of roach disease and ill-health. The putrifactive toxins of decomposition are slowly aiui constantly absorbed into the blood stream, one oi the commonest diseases restating front this absorption is Arthritis deformans (Rheumatoid arthritic.

Always, constipation tends to lower the body's power to resist disease and to indues a state of nervous depression, apart from its ouser symptoms. There are ran ous causes; sometimes the condition ;3 due to some mechanical agency, such as a saucing transverse colon, to a tuinoar, some displaced or distended abdominal or~an, or. even an adhes;on after an operation pressing on and narrating tie bewei: azaja, the bowel may have a congenital narrowing at its lower end.

An acn:e iever :s very often accompanied by constipation.. Probably, the common causes, however, are neg;ccting ths aopiike to evacuate the bowels at a regoiar tour, nerve stra-n and orerstady, rasuflicient ezerr.se a.nd a faulty diet.

Where a mechanical cause :s suspected an operation is probably the only coarse, feat otherwise a correction of habits and diet will greatly assist in curing the condition.

For esereises, try massaging the abdomen, commencing ca the lower right Side,, work up. then across below the ribs and down. Work around the umbilicus with a kneading motion. Deep breatiung and other eiercises la which tiie abdominal pmscles are used are a;.vo haipiuL Internally, any of the following may lie tried:— Half an hoar before anything (even a cup of teas is taken, drink three to four chi.s.smis of cold water —more if tne constipation is very obstinate. Drink each glassful in quick succession and not in small sips; this makes it act like a flush. There is bound to be a desire to Tormt, which must be resisted, if possible, tret should vomiting occur, repeat the drinks immediately alter. Do not attempt th.s method :: there has been any sga of bleeding from the stomach, or if a gastric ulcer is known to be present. The water should be taken each morning Bniil the condition is relieved.

A cupful of prunes washed (not cooked/ Sea eai«a j'ist before to bed can fee tried either alone or in conjunction irith the vr.iif.r. Toother the? will generally correct tlie most obstinate ccnstipaJson.

ParaiSn oil (obtained from the chemist's) is of great benefit-, it must be taken Jteguiariv.

If aa aperient is necessary try to avoid repeating it. Most aperients act on the towels because of seme irritant in their composition, which the bowels endeavour to purge out of the alimentary canal. A daily asema of plain water, therefore, is loss harmful. Hie diet should contain plenty of Oranges, grapes, tomatoes and such juicy fruits.

'Uncooked ifcisps wherever possible in preference \,o cooked also food which is Dot, too concentrated ard which contains * large surplus of waste matter, such as tte fibrous tissue of vegetables. Drink plenty of fluid between meals, but avoid *a ezcessiTeiy sloppy and fstarchy diet.